Needle threading device



July 23,1957 A, L APPEL 2,800,262

NEEDLE THREDING DEVICE July 23, 1957v A. L. APPEL 2,800,262

NEEDLE THREADING DEVICE Filed hay 17, 1955- v 3 sheets-shegt 2 July 23,195.7 v A. l.. APPEL 2,800,262

NEEDLE THREADING DEVICE en/MEM To @t 19A/DREW L. HPPEL,

United States Patent NEEDLE THREADING DEVICE Andrew L. Appel, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 17, 1955, Serial No. 508,971

13 Claims. (c1. 223-99) price opposite end of said plunger member is a thin steel blade that terminates in a hook portion adapted to engage a thread. The blade is resilient, and of such size as to pass freelythrough the eye of the smallest sewing needle.

Means are provided to limit the stroke of the plunger member in both directions, and to arrest movement of said member in one direction in the event a needle should be improperly positioned. In other words, although `the device is provided with markings visibly indicating the proper placement of the needle to be threaded, a safety arrangement is incorporated whereby to prevent injury to the blade and the hook thereon aforesaid, should the user fail to place the needle in at least the approximate requisite position, as Will appear.

Obviously, inasmuch as the diameters of needles vary in proportion to the eye sizes thereof, it is requisite to control the disposition of the hook end portion of the blade so that it will pass through the needle eyes freely when the plunger is actuated.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for` controlling the disposition of said blade member automaticallyl in consequence of and simultaneously hand sewing type are aggravated when a' seamstress `at tempts to thread the needle of a sewing machine, inasmuch as such a needle has a iixed position, and` cannot be manipulated into various thread-receptive dispositions with respect to the viewpoint of the seamstress, as is understood.

With reference to needles of the type ordinarily employed in hand sewing operations, it is also common knowledge that the eyes of such needles are formed in the blunt end portions opposite the piercing end portions thereof, whereas with respect to needles of the sewing machine type, the eyes are formed in the` piercing ends thereof.

Reverting to hand sewing needles, it is also to be noted that in the range of conventional sizes, the distances obtaining between the eyes andthe adjacent bluntfends thereof increase successively beginning with the smallest to the largest sized needle, and that the eye widths of said needles also increase correspondingly, as is understood.

Reverting to sewing machine needles, it is-likewise to be noted that in the range of conventional sizes, the distances obtaining between the eyes Aand the tip of the piercing end portions thereof increase successively beginning with the smallest to the largest sized needle.

The principal object of the present inventionfis toV provide a device incorporating means whereby the insertion of thread into the eyes of all conventional sewing needles may be quickly and easily accomplished, irrespective of whether the needles are of the hand sewing or sewing machine type.

To this end, the device of my` invention includes means whereby said device may be so adjusted as to thread the eye of any conventional sewing needle. That is to say, the instant device provides means for lirst determining the disposition of the eye thereof relatively to a needle body; and means for thereupon conditioning the device so that said eye may be placed in proper position to have a length of thread drawn therethrough, as will appear hereinafter.

Included in the mechanism of the device is a manually reciprocable plunger member that is slidably.`mounted for movement toward and away from a needle releasably clamped in thread receptive position between a portion of the frame and a movable jaw member of the device. One end of said plunger member is provided with a knob for nger manipulation thereof. Projecting from the with the conditioningxofthe devicefor each sized needle.

Another object is ;to.provide means for drawing aportion of thread in the form of a loop, through a needle eye in such manner as to render the loop readily manipulable to draw thepfree end of a thread leadingV from a spool through said eye whereby to` complete the threading operation.

YA further object of this invention is to provide a device facilitating the repeated threading of sewing machine needles without requiring detachment of said needles from the machine, once they have been gauged.

A feature of the invention resides in the incorporation in the device of a small cutting knife whereby with respect to `hand sewing. needles, any desired length of thread may be severed from the body of thread on the spool, the severing operation, preferably but not necessarily, being eifected subsequently to the threading operation.

Another feature of the invention is the inherent time-` saving factor thereof,jparticularly with respect to commercial sewing machine, operations.

A. further feature of the invention resides in the-,sim plicity of its construction from the standpoint of'repair and replacement of parts in the event the device should become damaged.

A more comprehensive understanding of the novel features and advantages of my invention may be `had from the detailed ydescription thereof to follow with reference to three sheets of-drawings wherein the preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated. It is to be noted and understood that in the interest of clarity, all of the structural views appearing in these drawings have been drawn on an enlarged scale. In other words, the device comprising the invention, the needles, the thread and so on, are portrayed on a scale equal to twice the actual size thereof, the lone exception being the schematic View of Figure 19.

In said drawings:

` Figure 1 is a top plan view of the needle threading device comprising the present invention, the said device being shown in its normal or not-in-use status;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of said device;

Figure 4 is a front or left end elevational view thereof;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal elevational view, partly in section, taken along the line 5 5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is va transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure l;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal elevational view, partly in section, taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 1; j

Figure 9 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 2, demonstrating the manner wherein an exemplary hand ksewing needle is preliminarily gauged in order to determine and visibly indicate the proper nal adjustment of the device for threading the depicted needle;

Figure l is a reproduction of a portion of Figure 7, demonstrating the nal adjustment made in consequence of the preliminary gauging operation demonstrated in Figure 9;

Figure l1 is a View similar to Figures 7 and 10,'exhibiting the relative disposition of various elements of the device with respect to the kneedle to be threaded, after the free end portion of a thread leading from .a spool or the like has been placed in position;

Figure l2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure l1,"

demonstrating the relative disposition of various elements of the device with respect to the needle to be threaded after said free end portion of thread has been engaged byv the hooked end of the plunger blade in consequence of the rearward movement of the plunger member;

Figure 13 is a View similar to Figures 1l and l2, demonstrating the next to nal disposition of the elements during the needle threading operation;

Figure `14 is a horizontal sectional plan View taken along the line 14--14 of Figure `13;

Figure 15 vis a view similar to Figure 13 demonstrating the nal disposition of elements at the completion of a needle threading operation;

Figure 16 is a bottom plan view demonstrating the device in needle disengaged status;

Figure 17 is a top plan view of the forward end portion of a lever member included in the device;V

Figure 18 `is a perspective View of a thin metallic needle -eye gaugeV element incorporated inthe device;

Figure 19 is a'schematic representation of the manner wherein a free length of thread leading from a spool is positioned in the `'course of a needle threading operation;

Figure 20 is Ia. view demonstrating va needle and thread relationship existent when said needle is removed from the device;

Figure 21 is a view demonstratinga completed threading operation; and

Figure 22 is a side elevational view of the device similar to Figure l9, demonstrating the preliminary gaugingv of an exemplary sewing machine needle. l

The illustrated embodiment of the device vcomprising the present invention is designated in its entirety by the numeral 24. The device 24 includes a casing' or frame generally designated 26, a manually reciprocable plunger member generally designated 28 that is slidably supported in said frame; a needle gaugingV lever and a main adjustment lever pivotally mounted in the frame and generally designated 30 and 32 respectively; and a movable needle clamping member that is hingedly supported from the frame and designated as a whole by the numeral 34.

The frame 26 includes a main body portion 35 having a rectangular longitudinal openin-g v36 formed therein. Rigid therewith and projecting upwardly from said main body portion is a panel section 38 of arcuate cont-our as shown. A series of index markings indicated at 40 is impressed or otherwise exhibited on the panel section, and numeral 42 designates a knife `segment partially exposed, and partially embedded in the panel member. A substantially U-shaped leaf spring 44 has one leg 46 thereof anchored in the rear end portion `of the frame body 35, whereas the free leg 48 of Isaid spring extends into the longitudinal opening 36 aforesaidV for a reason to appear.

The front -or forward` end portion of theV frame main body 35` merges finto what willhereinafter be termed a head section 50, terminating in an'..integral` thread-.guide segment 52.

As best seen for example in Figures 2, 4 and 6, an outer recess 54 is formed in the head section 50, and the vertical outer surface 56 of ysaid head above the recess 54 has formed therein a perpendicular V-shaped groove 58. And as best seen for -example in Figures 6, 7 and 9, an inner recess 60 is likewise formed in the head section 50, and the vertical inner surface 62 of said head labove the recess 60 has formed therein a perpendicular semi-circular groove 64 that terminates in a flared upper end portion designated 66. Numeral 68 designate-s an indicator mark provided on the top surface of the head section 50, said mark being formed normal to the vertical inner surface 62 of said section.

In order to provide clearance for the reciprocal movement of the plunger blade as will be more explicitly explained hereinafter, a clearance Vrecess or notch 70 is formed in the inner surface 62 `of the head section, and a similar notch 72 is formed in the inner surface 74 of the thread guide segment 52. The precise contour .of the said thread guide .segment is not critical. However, the illustrated configuration thereof is preferable inasmuch as it serves to facilitate the placement of a length of thread in proper position, particularly in the course of threading a sewing machine needle, `as will appear.

Illustrated per se in Figure 18, is an L-shaped metallic eye gauge element 76 includingleg segments 78 and 80. This element is extremely thin, the thickness thereof being comparable to the cutting edge portion of a razor blade, it being remembered that as hereinbefore noted, a double scale showing of the invention is presented in the drawings. That is to say, in the actual device the leg segment 78 is adapted to pass through the eye of the smallest sewing needle in 4general use. As mo-st lclearly apparent from an inspection of Figures 2 and 6, the leg segment 80 is embedded in the head Section 50, whereas the leg segment 78'projects into the recess 54 in Ia horizontal plane slightly below the lower end of the V-shaped groove 58.

Reverting to the panel Isection 38, it is to be understood that the series of markings 40 thereon demonstrates an exemplary, rather than a limiting range of needle sizes. In' other words, Whereas it would appear that the invention is designed to thread needles of ten different sizes, it Shouldjbe evi-'dent from the more detailed description to' follow, vthat the present invention may be utilized in threading needles of every conventional size. Generally, as will be more clearly explained below, in consequence lof a handsewingV needle gauging operation, the pointer segment 82 would register with one of the markings l through 5, whereas in consequence of a' sewing machine needle gauging operation, said pointer segment would register with one `of the markings 6 through 10.

Directing attention particularly to Figures l, 3 and 7, theframe main body 35 is provided with a vertically aligned pair of laterally projecting perforated ears 84 that are adapted to eifect in conjunction with a hinge pin S6,v the hinged supporting means for the movable needle clamping member 34 aforesaid.

The plunger member 28 includes a stem 88 of rectangular cross-section that is slidably disposed in the longitudinal opening 36; an operating knob 90 aixed to the rear end' of said stem; and a thin steel blade 92 rigid with and projecting from the ,forward end of said stem. As clearly shown for example in Figures 7 and lO, the for- Ward end of the blade 92 terminates in a hook 94 that is fashioned to securely engage a length of thread. As seen to best advantage in Figure 14, one side of the stem S8 has formed therein a rectangular recess or' depression 96and with reference also .to Figures l and 16, the other lside Vof said stem has formed therein an elongated depression 98 that delines a vertical abutment edge 100 for the leg 48 of the V-shaped leaf spring 44.

The conguration of the needle gauging lever 30 should be manifest from .aninspection particularly ofv Figures 1., 2 and 9,.V Said lever includes vin addition to the pointer segment 82, a laterally projecting shelf segment 102, and an intermediate or main body segment 104 that is movlable in a vertical slit 106 provided-therefor in thehead section 50. The said main body segment 104 is centrally apertured to receive a transversely disposed head pivot pin 103 that is mounted in the main body 35 of the frame adjacent thehead section thereof.

The lever 30 is freely rotatable on its pivotal mounting pin 108, wherefore in consequence of the weight preponderance obtaining rearwardly of said pin, the shelf segment 102 is normally biased into contact with the lower edge of the leg segment -78 that projects into the recess 54, as demonstrated espeecially in Figure 2.

The configuration ofthe main adjustment lever should be manifest from an inspection particularly of Figures 1, 13 and 17. Said lever includes: a main body segment 110; a rearwardly extending arm 112 that is contiguously disposed relatively to the panel section 38; a reversely bent pointer segment 114 that is fashioned so as to provide frictional engagement thereof with the panel section 38; alaterally projecting shelf segment 116; and an upwardly extending finger segment 118.

The main body segment 110 is apertured to receive the pin 108, so that as should be apparent from an inspection particularly of Figures 1 and 16, said pin serves as a common pivotal mounting for both the needle gauging lever 30` and the main adjustment lever 32. To accommodate movements of the lever 32, the head section 50 and the adjacent thereto inner face portion of the frame 26 are appropriately recessed and slitted as indicated at 120. The shelf segment 116 is operable in the inner recess 60, and as best seen in Figures 6 and 16, provides a movable'needle rest disposed beneath the perpendicular groove 64. lt is to be observed that as shown in Figure 6, the shelf segment 116 slopes slightly downwardly away from the perpendicular groove 64, such disposition thereof being critical especially with respect to the threading of smaller size needles, as will be more clearly explained below. I

With particular reference for example to. Figures l and 17, it is to be observed that the finger segment 118 is angularly disposed relatively to the main body segment 110. Further, it is noted that beginning at the free tip end 122 theerof, said finger segment is increasingly slanted away from the main body segment 110 until it merges into the arcuate connecting segment 124. The linger segment 118 plays an important role, wherefore the illustrated and described contour thereof is critical, as will appear.

The configuration of the needle` clamping member 34 that is hingedly connected to the frame main body portion 35 as described above, may be seen to best advantage in Figures and 16. Said clamping member includes a main body portion 126 having a vertical hole 128 therein through which the hinge pin 86 extends. The rear end 130 of the main body preferably projects beyond the frame 26 as shown, and has a lock pin 132 rigid therewith. The free projecting end of this lock pin normally extends into an elongated slot 133 provided therefor in the main body portion 35 of the frame, as Vclearly shown in Figures 13 and 14. The rear end of the slot 133 is open. l

Forwardiy of the lock pin 132, the main body portion 126 has formed therein a well or circular depression 134 that is adapted to surround and retain therein one end portion of a compression spring 136. The. other end of said spring is seated in a similar depression 138 formed in the main body portion 35 of the frame.

The front or forward end portion of the main body 126 merges into a head section 140 that terminates in an Iintegralrprojecting nose piece 142. It will be observed from an inspection of Figures 2 and 22, that the rounded tip 144 of said nose piece projects forwardly vbeyond the thread guide 52, and that the underside 146 thereof 6 lies in auplaneabove the=semicircular bottom 148 of the thread guide notch 150.

Numeral 152 designates an inner recess formed in the head section to accommodate the shelf segment 116 of the main adjustment lever. Numeral 154 designates a slightly less than semicircular flared depression formed in the head section 140, and leading from said depression and provided on the top surface of said section, is an indicator mark 156. The inner vertical surface 158 of head section 140 is planar with the exception of the depression 154, as shown particularly in Figures 5 and 16. i

From the foregoing detailed description and an inspection of the drawings, it should be apparent that the invention provides an ingenious device that may quickly be taken apart should repair or replacement of any partV be requisite. Thus, in order to remove the plunger member 28, it is merely necessary to apply a pen knife or the lil-:e to the leg 48 of the U-shaped leaf spring 44, press said leg into the recess 160 shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 16, then pull said plunger member rearwardly until it is clear of the frame 26. In order to disconnect the movable clamping bar 34, it is only necessary to extract the headed hinge pin 86. Should it be desired to remove either the main adjustment lever 32, the `needle gauging ,lever 30, or both of them, it is merely necessary to` extract the pivot pin 108 and pass the levers downwardly and out of the frame via the recesses 60 and 54 respectively.A

Prior tol entering into a description of the manner wherein the device functions to achieve its objectives, some of the objects that are illustrated but have not been particularly describedhereinbefore, will be designated by means of reference characters. Thus, the needle A that appears in Figures 9, ll through 13, l5, 20, and21 represents a typical hand sewing needle. Needles of this type are manufactured with the thread slot or eye a adjacent the blunt end b thereof, as is understood. The needle B illustrated in Figure 22 represents a sewing machine needle. Needles of this type are manufactured with the eye e adjacent the piercing end d thereof, as is also well known.r Sewing machine needles are further manufactured with a shank s that has a flat side portion f for engagement by the needle clamp set screw. This flat side f of the shank portion is Vformed in alignment with the eye e, as shown, so that when the needle B is properly positioned in the needle bar, the eye e will be ydisposed transversely of the sewing machine, as is Well known and understood.

. In the diagrammatical showing of Figure 19, a representative spool of thread is designated C, a length of thread leading therefrom is designated T, and the free end of the thread T is designated n, it being noted that the thread T and its free `end n are so designated also in other views wherein they appear.

Operation and use In normal or not-in-use status, the movable parts of the device occupy the relative positions of them portrayed in Figures l through 7. At such times, the plunger 28 will have been pulledrearwardly until the free extremity ofthe leaf spring leg 48 is in engagement with the abutment edge 100 of the stem 88; the inner vertical faces 62 and 158 of the head sections 50 and 140 respectively will be contiguously disposed, and so maintained in conse-- quenceV of the action of compression spring 136; the free end of the lock pin extends into the elongated slot 133 but is clear of the plunger stem 88; in consequence of gravity, the needle gauging lever 3 0 will have its shelf 102 in contact with the underside of the eye-gauge leg segment 78; and the main adjustment lever 32 may be either in the position shown, or in the position it occupied subsequent to a prior use of the device, it being remembered that because of the frictional engagement between the panel section, 38 and theotfset pointer segment 114, the arm 112 agee-oaseand therefore theY balance of said lever 32 are always releasably maintained in the position to which the' lever is adjusted, p j

With attention focused onrFigure 1, it is to be observed that the'resilient blade 92 is preformed so that the portion thereof projecting forwardly from the plungerl stem 88 is inclined outwardly at; a slight angle. It should also be observed that an imaginary line, forming a rearward continuation of the line that indicates the contiguous disposition of the head section faces 62 and 158, would miss the blade 92 entirely. The reason for this arrangement will be clarified hereinafter.

Assuming now that it were desired to thread the hand sewing needle A, the pointer segment 82 of the gauging lever would be elevated with one hand to a position approximate the panel marking'9 or 10, Thereupon, using the other hand, the needle A would be applied to the perpendicularl V-shaped groove 58 with the projecting leg segment 78 of the eye gauge element extending through the eye a of said needle. Thus disposed, the needle would be lifted until the bottom of eye a engaged against the underside of the gauge segment 78, whereupon the pointer segment 82' would be released. Release of said pointer causes it to descend automatically until the shelf 102 contacts the blunt end b of the needle A. The resultant disposition of the needle gauging lever is clearly demonstrated in Figure 9, the pointer segment 82 visibly indicating that this particular needle is of the size 4 variety.

Thereupon, following removal of the needle A, the lever 30 will drop to'itsrFi'gure 2 position, and as suggested by the arrowv appearing in Figure 9, the main adjustment'lever 32 is swung upwardly until the tip of its pointer segment 114 registers with the size 4 marking on the panel 38.V

In consequence ofthis adjustment, the shelf 116 and the finger segment 118 would move from the position thereof illustrated in Figure 7 to the Figure 10 position thereof. Fortuitous disturbance of this adjustment is obviated by the frictionalarrangement explained above, so that the disposition of the lever 32 remains fixed during the actual threading operation about to be described.

It shouldV be evident that the diameter of the needle A under consideration (inasmuch as it is of a size next to the largest sized hand` sewing needle in ordinary use), is such that when during the next step of operation it is entered downwardly in the semicircular groove 64, the

clamping member head section 140: may move slightly outwardly against the inwardly biasing force exertedv by the compression spring 136. It is to be noted however that as a general' rule, no clamping action is required` with respect to hand sewing needles, because as noted hereinbefore, and a's demonstrated particularly in Figure 6, the slope of the shelf 1116 toward' the blank face 158 of the head section- 140, serves to maintain the needles in fixed positions. I

Initial entry of the blunt needle end b is facilitated by the complemental disposition of the ared formations 66 and 154 exhibited particularly in Figure 6. Proper entry of the needle so that the eye a lies transversely of the device, is facilitated by the provision of the aligned guideA markings 68 and 156. Preferably though not necessarily, these guide markings may have a contrasting coating off paint applied thereto, so that they are easily' discernable.`

Simultaneously with the establishment of contact between theend b of the needle and the upper surface of shelf 11,6, theV downward movement of the needle A would automatically terminate orbe terminated, in consequence whereof said needle wouldv occupy the position thereof' demonstrated inV Figures 11V through 13, and also in Figure l5. l

With. the needle A now in the status demonstrated and described, the plunger member 28V would be moved forwardly. means oi the. knob- 90. In the. course of the` initial movement of said plunger member, the hook segment 94 of blade '92 would be deflected from its normal disposition and Adirected into a path adapted to assure its entry into and passage through the eye a of the needle A.

In other words, the upstanding ngersegment 118 of the main adjustment lever 32 is `so formulated as to effectively control and direct hook portion 9,4 of the blade 92 into a status wherein itmay freely pass'through and extend beyond the thread-slot or eye a of the needle. It is, v also noted at this point, that inasmuch as the controlled direction of the hook portion 94 is toward the center of the needle, should the eye ci happen to be disposed out of alignment with the guide markings 68 and 156, said hook portion would nevertheless pass through said eye as the plunger member moves forwardly.

lt is to be observed, and attention in this respect is directed especially to Figures l and 17, that the contour of the finger segment 118y is such that deflection of the blade 92 may be had without any resultant injury to the hook portion 94 thereof.

That is to say, when the plunger member 28 is moved forwardly, the hook 94 will skid off the finger segment 118 at an angle that will vary in accordance' with the disposition of said segment. Thus with attention directed also to Figures 10 and 11, it is noted that in consequence of the illustrated main adjustment lever disposition, forward movement of the plunger member will cause the hook 94 to skid off the finger 118V at a point intermediate the tip 122 and the arcuate Yconnecting segment 124.

In Figure ll', the plunger member 28y has been pushed forwardly to the extreme position thereof permitted, the U-shaped leaf spring 44 at this time arresting any further movement of said'plungen After the hook 94 and a portion of the blade 92: have passed through the eye a, theyl successively pass through the notch 70 and enter the notch 72 as shown. VAs already noted, the illustrated disposition of the blade'and, its hook 94 is an extreme one. Actually it is only necessary to move the plunger forwardly until .the hook segment 94 is entirely within the notch 72. Y

lt is to be obseivedV with reference to Figures 1 and 14, that any lateral movement ofthe head 140 in consequence of the entry of needle A is so, slight, that the lock pin 132 would notmove inwardly a sufficient distance to cause entry of its free end into the depression 96 of the plunger stem 88. Thus the plunger member would have free though limited reciprocable movement.

Reverting now to Figure. ll, with the hook 94 disposed within the notch 72, a length of thread T leading from spool C is manipulated to pass along the underside 146 of the nosing 142, andY then over the upper' edge of the blade 92, the free end n of said thread lying in and hanging down from the notch. 148 provided in the thread guide segment 52. The procedure just described will be clear from an inspection of Figure 19. Y

With the thread T thus disposed, the plunger member 28 is pulled rearwardly until thel vertical abutment edge thereof engages the leg segment 4S of the leaf spring 44 and deforms said springsomewhat as demonstrated in Figure 14.

The initial Vrearward movement of the plunger member 28 catches the thread T as the hook 94 is withdrawn from the notch 72, thus beginning the formation of a loop segment in said: thread, as should be manifest from an inspection of Figure l2.

Figure 13 demonstrates the completion of the loop formation, and the disposition thereof after it has been pulled through the needle eye a in consequence of the completed rearward movement of the plunger member 28, as has been explained.

thread loop is 'demonstrated' in Figure 115', it beingl noted that the hook segment '94 has been disengaged from said loop. f

Slight inward nger and thumb pressure would now be applied by the use of one hand, simultaneously to the rear end portion 13@ of the clamping member 34 and the rear end portion of the frame 26, whereupon the needle A would be lifted from the device with the other hand. The resultant needle and thread relationship is exhibited in Figure 20.

The desired length of thread T may now be spun from the spool C and severed therefrom by means of the knife 42, as is believed to be apparent without further explanation. lt is to be understood however, that the thread cutting may optionally be done prior or subsequent to the final step of threading the needle, about to` be described with reference to Figure 21. This step comprises the simple procedure of pulling the free end n of thread through the needle eyea, the result being demonstrated.

It is to be observedthat when manual pressure is applied to facilitate removal of the needle A, the plunger member 28 will be in the approximate position thereof illustrated in Figure 16, recess 96 thus being in position to accommodate entry thereinto of the free end of pin 132. Itis further to be observed, that the lock pin 132 thus also serves to indicate to the user that the plunger member is in proper position for easy removal of the needle.

From the foregoing description it should be obvious that with a little practice, a seamstress can thread hand sewing needles in a few seconds. It is of course understood that gauging of the needle A is required but once, inasmuch as the main adjustment lever will remain in position indefinitely. And even though it should be fortuitously moved, the seamstress will know'that for the particular size of needle she is employing for a certain sewing operation, the size 4 settingV is required for threading purposes.V

Again, assuming that a seamstress ordinarily employs three sizes of needles to take care of all her hand sewing, she may gauge these three needles and either make a mental note or a written notation of the main adjustment lever setting required to thread each of them.

One of the principal features of the invention resides in its usefulness with respect to the threading of sewing machine needles, without requiring removal of them from the machine once the main adjustment lever setting for that particular needle has been determined.

Assuming first of all, that the instant device would find its way into the hands of a seamstress whose sewing machine is at that time equipped with the needle B, she v would first of all loosen the set screw that retains the needle, and then remove said needlefrom the needle bar.

Thereupon the needle B would be gauged in the same manner as heretofore described, and demonstrated in Figure 22. A mental or written notation would then be made that the needle B requires the size 8 setting of the main adjustment lever 32. The needle would then be remounted in the needle bar, and said main adjustment lever would be manually raised as suggested by the arrow 'to bring the pointer segment 114 thereof in line with the size 8 marking. Y

ln consequence of the higher adjustment of the device, it should be manifest that the tip 122 of the linger segment 113 would move forwardly and downwardly relatively to the disposition thereof exhibited in for example Figures 10 through 13. As a result, when the plunger member 2S is pushed forwardly during the initial threading operation to be described, the blade 92 and its thread hook 94 will be deflected at a slightly greater angle than would result in consequence of the Figures l0 through 13 disposition aforesaid of the finger segment. Therefore, the thread hook segment 94 would be pointed squarely toward the center of the eye e at the now to be described initiation of a threading operation with respect to sewing machine needle B. l

Assuming that the needle B has been properly reinserted in the needle bar with the set screw engaging the flat side f of the needle shank s, the threading operation would be performed with the presser foot in down position, and the needle bar in uppermost position, a condition obtainable in consequence of manually turning the sewing machine hand-wheel, as is well understood.

With thumb and finger pressure now being applied to condition the device 24 to the status thereof shown in Figure 16, said device would be slid across the upper surface of the presser foot until the markings 68 and 156 are athwart the needle B, at which time thumb and finger pressure would be released. Immediately and automatically, actuated by the compression spring 136, the head segments and 140 cooperate to clamp the device 24 onto the needle B. Thereupon the device would be slid upwardly on the needle until the tip of the piercing end d engaged the shelf 116 of the main adjustment lever 32.

Both hands ofthe seamstress would now be free, inasmuch as the clamping action would automatically maintain the device in position. The importance of this factor is noted, because it is more difiicult to manipulateA the thread T into position in the course of sewing machine needle threading operations, as should be apparent. It is also noted at Vthis point, that the nosing 142 extends forwardly a considerable distance beyond the thread guide 52 in order to facilitate such operations.

With the device 24 thus clamped in position, the plunger member 28 would be pushed forwardly with the right hand in the manner previously described. Thereupon, the length of thread T leading from the spool C that is-mounted on the machine spool pin, would be manipulated into position by using the left hand.

That is to say, the seamstress would grasp the free end n of the thread, loop it beneath the nosing 142, slide it rearwardly along the undersurface 146 thereof, train it over the blade 92, and then let it trail off into the notch 148 of the thread guide. Thus it is seen, that the procedure is similar to that described earlier with respect to needle A, and diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 19. The procedure that follows in threading the needle B is identical with that explained with respect to the needle A, except that after the thread T has been looped through the eye e, manual pressure would again be applied to the rear end portion 130 of the clamping member 34 and the rear end portion of the frame, whereupon the device would be lowered to the presser foot and withdrawn from the needle.

In consequence, the looped thread will be in a dispo-l sition relatively to the eye e of needle B, similar to that demonstrated inFigure 20 relatively to the eye a of the needle A.

It is to be noted that the most important role of the lock pin 132 is played in employing the device 24 for threading a sewing machine needle. In addition to the role it plays in hand needle threading operations as previously explained, said lock pin prevents compressing the said rear end portions of the device unless the plunger member 28 has iirstbeen drawn rearwardly to the position thereof illustrated in Figure 16, when the device is being employed in sewing machine needle operations.

Fromy the foregoing description and the comprehensive illustrations exhibited in the drawings, it is believed that the construction and operation of my invention should be manifest.V y

It is to be understood however, that the illustrated construction may obviously be modified somewhat without departing from the characterizing concepts thereof, as set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for threading hand sewing and sewing machine needles, the combination of: a frame; a panel member on the frame; a range of needle size markings exhibited on the panel; a stationary gauge element projecting laterally from the frame and adapted to be passed through the eye of a needle manually applied thereto; a

gauging lever rotatably supported in the frame; a laterally projecting shelf segment integral with said lever and normally engagingthe underside of said gauge 4element in consequence of gravity; a pointer segment also integral with said lever and adapted to register with one of said panel markings when in consequence of placing a needle in gauging position about said gauge element said shelf segment engages the eye-adjacent end of the needle; and a main adjustment lever also rotatably mounted in the frame and terminating at one end in a pointer segment adapted to be manually brought into registration with any of the markings on the panel member, said pointer segment being in frictional engagement With said panel member.

2. In a device for threading yhand sewing and sewing machine needles, said device including in combination: a frame; a panel member on the frame; a range of needle size markings exhibited on the panel; a stationary gauge element Lprojecting laterally from the frame and adapted to be passed through the eye of a needle manually applied thereto; a gauging lever rotatably supported in the frame; a laterally projecting shelf segment integral'with said lever and normally engaging the underside of said gauge element in consequence of gravity; a pointer segment also integral with said lever and adapted to register with one of said panel markings when in consequence of placing a needle in gauging position about said gauge element said shelf segment engages the Veye-adjacent end of the needle; a main adjustment leverY also rotatably mounted in the frame and terminating at one end in a pointer segment adapted to be manually brought intok registration with any of the markings on the panel mem-V ber, said pointer segment being in frictional engagement with said panel member; a laterally projecting shelf forming the other end of said main adjustment lever; and means for supporting a needle resting on said shelf in a generally perpendicular position within the. device.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a frame; a manually reciprocable plunger member slidably mounted in the frame; a leafspring element limiting movements of the plunger member in both directions; a thin blade element projecting from one end of the plunger member and terminating in a hook segment adapted to engage a length of thread, said blade element being so dimensioned as to pass freely through the thread slot or eye lof all conventional sizes of hand sewing and sewing machine needles; and means to releasably retain a needle in the device with the eye f the needle facing the hook segment of the blade element aforesaid, said means comprising a supporting shelf for the lower end of the needle, a head section integral with the frame and having a perpendicular semicircular groove therein to accommodate the body of the needle, Aand a movable ,clamping member that is hingedly supported from said frame and includes a head section adapted to engage the body of the needle along the surface thereof opposite that disposed in the semicircular groove aforesaid. 4

4. In a device of the character and for the purpose described: means for determining the size of the thread slot or eye of any conventional hand sewing and sewingv machine needle; means for visibly indicating the determined size on a panel portion of the device; means adjustable in accordance with the size indication whereby to properly support the needle in position to have a length of thread drawn through the said eye thereof; means to effectively maintain said needle releasably in position; a slidably mounted manually reciprocable plunger member provided at its forward end with hook means for rst engaging said length of thread, then forming a loop therein, and thereafter drawing said loop through said eye in consequence of the movement of said plunger member in a rearward direction; and leaf spring means for there-- upon automatically producing a slight forward movement of the plunger member whereby to elfect the automatic disengagement of said loop of threadfrom the hook means aforesaid following release of the plunger member.

5. 1n a device of thecharacter 'and for the purpose described, the combination of: a frame; an arcuate panel member extending upwardly therefrom and rigid therewith; a series of needle size markings exhibited on one side of the panel member; a thread cutting knife embedded in the panel member with its cutting edge exposed; a head section having a perpendicular V-shaped groove formed in the outer vertical surface thereof integral with the forward end of the frame; a 4recess provided in the said head section `below the V-shaped groove; an angular needle eye gauge element having a vertical leg segment embedded in said frame and a horizontal leg segment projecting into said recess, whereby the Veye of a needle positioned in the V-shaped groove may freely receiveY said horizontal leg segment; a horizontally disposed pin removably mounted in the frame; and a lever pivotally supported on said pin, said lever including a main body segment movable in `a vertical slit provided therefor in the fname, a pointer segment adapted to register with one of the markings exhibited on the panel member whenever a needle is positioned in the V-shaped groove with the eye thereof about the horizontal leg segment of the needle eye gauge element, and a laterally projecting shelf segment brought into Contact in consequence of gravity with the eye of a said needle.

6. A device for therewith threading a sewing machine needle without requiring detachment of the needle from the machine including in combination: a frame having a head section formed on one end thereof; a clamping member hingedly supported from the frame and having a complemental head section formed on one end thereof; a compression spring biiasing the head section of the clamping member toward the head section of the frame; a semicircular perpendicular groove terminating at Vits upper end in a ared needle entrance portion formed in the inner surface of the frame head section; a similar needle entrance portion formed in the clamping member head section, the inner surface of said clamping member head section being planar; a lever rotatably supported in the frame and provided with a shelf segment for supporting the lower end of a needle disposed in said perpendicular groove and clamped therein in consequence of the engagement therewith of the planar surface of said compression spring biased head section of the clamping member; a manually reciprocable plunger member slidably mounted in the frame; an operating knob on the rear end and a blade element projecting from the forward end of the plunger member; a hook segment forming the forward extremity of said blade element, said blade and hook being so dimensioned as to pass freely through the eye of said needle; and an upstanding angularly disposed inger segment on the rotatably supported lever aforesaid for directing said hook segment toward the center of the needle eye, so that following a forward movement of the plunger member to extend the blade element through the needle eye whereby to expose the hook segment for the reception of a length of thread, a subsequent rearward movement of said plunger will pull said length of thread in looped form through the needle eye aforesaid.

7. A device for therewith threading a sewing machine needle without requiring detachment of the needle from the machine, said device including in combination: a frame having a head section formed onone end thereof; a clamping member hingedly supported from the frame and having a complemental head section formed on one end thereof; a compression spring biasing the head section of the clamping member toward the head section of the frame; a semicircular perpendicular groove terminating at its upper end in a ared needle entrance portion formed in the inner surface of the frame head section; a similar needle entrance portion kformed in the clamping member head section, the inner surface of said clamping member 13 head section being planar; a leverrotatablysupported in the frame and provided with a shelf segment for supporting the lower end of a needle disposed `in said perpendicular groove and clamped therein in -consequence ofthe engagement therewith of the planar'surface of said corn'- pression spring biased head section of the clamping member; a manually reciprocable plunger member slidably mounted in the frame; an operating knob on`the rear end and a blade element projecting from the forward end of the plunger member; a hook segment forming the forward extremity of said blade element, said blade and hook being so dimensioned as to pass freely through the eye of said needle; an upstanding nger segment on the rotatably supported lever aforesaid for directing said hook segment toward the center of the needle eye, so that following `a forward movement of the plunger member to extend the blade element through the needle eye whereby to expose the hook segment for the reception of a length of thread, a subsequent rearward movement of said plunger member will pull said length of thread in looped form through the needle eye aforesaid; and leaf spring means effective to automatically release said hook segment from engagement with said looped thread upon release of the plunger member.

8. The device set forth in claim 7 wherein cooperating visible indicator marks are provided on the upper surfaces of the complemental head sections of the frame and clamping members aforesaid whereby to indicate the proper disposition of said device relatively to the needle; wherein a thread guide is formed integrally with fand projects forwardly from the head section of the frame; and wherein a nosing is formed integrally with and projects forwardly from the head section of the clamping member, said thread guide and nosing serving to facilitate the placement of :a length of thread leading from a spool into position on the exposed hook segment of the blade element.

9. In a device for use in threadingneedles, the combination comprising: a frame; a manually reciprocable needle threading plunger member slidably disposed in the frame; a U-shaped leaf spring having one leg segment thereof anchored in the frame and they other free leg segment thereof disposed in contact with a rst recess provided in the plunger member whereby to limit movements of said member in both directions; a clamping member hingedly supported from the frame and normally biased into needle clamping position by a compression spring seated in opposed circular depressions provided therefor respectively in said frame and clamping member; a lock pin rigid with the clamping member and having its free end extending into an elongated slot provided therefor in the frame when the clamping member is in clamping position; and a second recess provided in the plunger member for the reception of said free end of the lock pin when the clamping member is manipulated to needle releasing position against the biasing action of said compression spring.

10. In a device for use in threading needles, the composition comprising: a frame; a reciprocable plunger member slidable in the frame; a knob aflixed to the rear end thereof for manual engagement whereby to reciprocate the plunger member; leaf spring means to limit reciprocal movements of said plunger member in both directions; a thin resilient blade element embedded in and projecting forwardly from the front end of the plunger member, the free projecting portion of said blade element being slightly angularly formed relatively to the portion thereof that is embedded in the plunger member; a thread hook segment constituting the extremity of the free projecting portion of the blade element; means to releasably maintain a needle in position with the eye thereof in approximate alignment with said thread hook segment; and means adapted to direct the free end portion of the blade element and its hook segment into said eye for passage therethrough when the plunger member 114 ismov`edforwardly to expose the hook segment beyond the needle forthe reception of a `length of thread.

l1. In a device for use in threading needles, the con-v struction recited in claim l0 wherein the means adapted to-direct the free end portiony of the blade element and its-hook` segment into said eye for passage therethrough when the plunger member is moved forwardly to expose the hook segment beyond the needle for the reception of a length ofv thread comprises; the upstanding finger segment of a main adjustment lever rotatably supported on a pivot pin mounted in the frame, said linger segment being angularly disposed relatively to and slanted away from the main body segment of said lever, wherefore said free end portion of the blade element and its hook segment aforesaid will be deflected angularly toward said needle eye in a degree commensurate with the disposition of said finger segment during the initial forward movement of said plunger member.

12. In a device of the character and for the purpose described, the combination of a frame and a complemental clamping member hingedly supported from and disposed along one side of the frame, said frame member including: a main body, having a rectangular opening formed longitudinally ltherein for slidably supporting a manually reciprocable plunger member provided with blade means for drawing a loop of thread through the eye of a needle; a head section rigid with the forward end of said body; a perpendicular V-shaped groove formed in the outer surface of the head section for the reception ofa needle to be gauged; an outer recess formed in the head section below the lower end of said groove and a vertical slit in said head section cooperating to permit free movements of a needle gauging lever; a thread guide segment rigid with and extending forwardly from the head section, usaid segment having a thread receiving notch formed therein for cooperation with the underside of a nosing projecting from said frame whereby to facilitate the proper disposal of a length of thread relatively to said'blade means; an upwardly extending arcuately contoured panel section rigid with the frame and having markings thereon indicating a size range of needles that may be threaded when subjected to the action of the device; a perpendicular semicircular groove terminating at the top in a dared portion for the reception of a needle to be threaded; an inner recess formed in the head section below the lower end of said `groove to receive therein the eye end of the needle and the sloping shelf segment of a main adjustment lever that is pivotally mounted in the frame, said shelf segment providing a rest for the needle; aligned spaced clearance notches formed in the inner surfaces of the head section and the thread guide segment; and an indicator mark provided on the top surface of said head section to guide the user for the proper placement of a needle in threading position.

' described, the combination of a frame having needle threading mechanism operably` supported therein, and a clamping member hingedly supported from and disposed along one side of said frame, said clamping member including: a main body portion having a vertical hole therein intermediate its ends for the reception of a hinge pin; a head section interal with the forward end of the main body portion for cooperation with a similar section of the frame whereby to clamp a needle in threading position within the device; a nosing rigid therewith and projecting forwardly from said head section to facilitate the placement of a length of thread in proper disposition relatively to the threading mechanism; a flared needle en- 258003262" 15 '16 ment lever-included in the said threading mechanism; a cir-f References Cited in the file of this patent cular recess provided `in the`main body `portion 'rearwardly UNTED STATES PATENTS of the hinged connection forming Ya seatfo'r'one end Yof a free end of said pin being normally disposed in-an elongated open ended slot provided therefor yin said frame. 10 

